Oblt Wolfgang Schenck - 4 victories in 1 attack

[Andre Stewart]

Hi all,

Hope someone can help me with this "mystery" -- In Obermeier's RK book, he mentions that during the early stages of Barbarossa, Schenck (at that time with 1./SKG210) and his Staffel attacked Taganrog airfield. About 50 Russian fighters rose in defense, and in the ensuing battle, Schenck personally accounted for 4 fighters.

Does anyone have any information on the date this took place, or know of any other sources that can provide more details of this incident?

Thanks in advance,
andre

[John Manrho]

Andre,

interesting question, I have gone through my files on 1./SKG 210 and 1./ZG 1 but there seems to be very little on unit victories or operation details in general of the first Einsatz against the Sovjet-Union (22.06.1941-25.09.1941). The only thing I could find is 8 Abschüsse on 22.06.1941 of which one was shot down by Fw. Rückert. Nothing on Oblt. Schenck.

Cheers,

John.

[Tom Semenza]

John,

Would the Fw. Rückert you mentioned be Otto Rückert who previously served in Tr.Gr. 186 and Erpr.Gr. 210?

Thanks,
Tom

[John Manrho]

Tom,

Yep, I believe so, allthough no 100% proof. I believe this Fw. Rückert is the same as Ofw. Otto Rückert, born 9.4.1915 and killed in flying accident on 31.1.1942 at Landsberg (Me 210). He belonged to 1./ZG 1.

Cheers,

John

[Andre Stewart]

John,

Thanks for your reply.

Just to add a little more, I think this incident happened some time between 22 June and 9 July '41. Why do I say this? From John Vasco's book, on that day Bf-110E S9+AH (W.Nr 4024) of 1./SKG210 crash-landed near Pomisewje. There were apparently no injuries hence no crew names were indicated.

However, recently a photo of the rudder of this Bf-110 appeared on eBay and I got a scan, attached here. As you can see, there were 6 victory bars, but only 4 with what appears to be a red star at the top. I'm half-venturing a guess this is Schenck's machine (Staffel and "A" aircraft also in order) and that the 1st 2 bars are his claims in the west the previous year while the next 4 are the ones over Taganrog air base.

What do you think?

rgds
andre

BTW - I've also sent you a pm

[John Manrho]

Andre,

You could be right, but records on I./SKG 210 operations on their first Russian campaign are poor.

Regards,

John

[Evgeny Velichko]

Andre:

Crash place is Понизовье (Ponizovje), eastern Belarus' (Orsha region), close to Smolensk region.

http://maps.yandex.ru/-/CJucftC

And seems that it was Schenck's aircraft.

Taganrog airfield came under attack of I./ZG1 in summer 1942, not 1941.

[John Vasco]

Somebody with Johannes Kaufmann's book may be able to add further information.

[Evgeny Velichko]

John:

I have scans of that book.

It does not answer all questions, but sometimes makes new.

As for:

There is no even a word, where I./SKG210 flew during 28.6.41 and 7.7.41.

I am sure now, that I./SKG210 goined II./SKG210 on its travel to South, to Klemenzow and Vladimir-Volynsky, to attack airfields around Lwow.

Originally Posted by John Manrho

The only thing I could find is 8 Abschüsse on 22.06.1941 of which one was shot down by Fw. Rückert. Nothing on Oblt. Schenck.

Cheers,
John.

On 22.6.41, 1./SKG210 hammered airfield Maly Zwody, base of 74 shap (assault air regiment), destroyng and damaging all I-153, I-15bis and 8 new IL-2. Also, at least 2 I-153 scrambled from airfield, and 1 of them was shot down or takeoff by bomb of Fw. Rückert ~ 4:15. It was 1st victory of SKG210 on EasternFront.